38 • OIL
&
ENERGY
Profiles
TACO’S FLOPRO UNIVERSITY
NOW IN ITS FIFTH YEAR
Taco’s FloPro University (FloPro U)
is already well into its fifth year, offering
students in-the-field and factory classes. With
live webinars and archived video e-learning
sessions, FloPro U offers high-quality, highly
interactive contractor education programs.
Some classes are already sold out, so
be sure to sign up soon for remaining seats
in Taco’s all-new factory training program:
“Residential Hydronics: Advanced Soup
to Variable Speed Nuts” course. Taco is
offering its next factory class in Cranston,
RI on October 24-25.
According to Taco’s Residential
Training/Trade Program Manager John
Barba, multiple field training dates are
scheduled for Fort Collins, Denver, Pueblo,
Fargo ND, Northern California, Duluth,
MN, Chicago and Salt Lake City among
many other locations. He suggests that
interested trade pros contact their local
Taco rep for information.
In the Residential Hydronics course,
Barba guides attendees through every vital
step of designing and installing an efficient,
modern residential hydronic system,
including:
• How to determine the heat loss of
any structure and understanding the
essential building block for all hydronic
systems: the Universal Hydronics
Formula.
• Circulator sizing: how to choose the
best circulator for every job, pipe
sizing, air control and near-boiler
piping, including trunk and branch
systems, one-pipe primary-secondary
layouts, “moose antler” piping and
hydraulic separators.
• Low voltage wiring: learn the pros and
cons of zoning with zone valves versus
zoning with circulators.
• Domestic hot water systems: ratings,
output and spec sheets, and optimizing
indirect system performance.
• Finally, a close look at operating costs:
the real dollars and cents of any system,
how to decide whether to replace or
improve a system, and five ways to
make any system more efficient.
Like all FloPro Factory Training
courses, “Residential Hydronics” focuses
on real-world solution to the problems you
encounter daily in the field and offers ample
opportunities for hands-on learning, plus
plenty of interaction with the instructor
and classmates.
Tuition only, with hotel accommoda-
tions not included is $119. Tuition plus
one night’s hotel is $209. Tuition plus two
nights’ hotel is $289. Tuition plus three
nights’ hotel accommodation is $379.
For all details and to register for classes,
visit Taco’s website at
taco-hvac.com/training2013.html
MARK STILLMAN JOINS ENERGY EDGE
Energy Edge, LLC recently announced
that Mark Stillman has joined as Senior
Partner to solidify the management team.
Stillman co-founded Energy Edge in 2009
but has only participated
as an advisor to date. In
his new role, he will be
responsible for overseeing
corporate initiatives, busi-
ness advisory services, and
the management of the
software division. Mark brings 20 years of
energy industry experience to the position
with specific expertise in management
consulting and technology solutions.
Prior to joining Energy Edge, Stillman
served as COO for Hedge Solutions, Inc.
In addition, he has held management posi-
tions with tech providers ADD Systems and
Vertrax as well as pure operational roles
with HOP Energy and Suburban Propane.
He holds a BS in Applied Economics from
The University of Connecticut.
CALEFFI WELCOMES KEVIN FREIDT
Caleffi recently announced the hiring
of Kevin Freidt in the newly created
position of Applications
Engineering Manager. He
brings 30 years of experi-
ence in the commercial
HVAC industry, including
field application engi-
neering, product develop-
ment, engineering R&D,
project management and sales/distribution.
He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Technology from Old Dominion University
and is a LEED AP. Freidt reports to Mike
Schreiner, Director of Operations.
AFC FIRST PARTNERS IN
TRAINING ACADEMY
AFC First Financial Corporation has
partnered with Direct Learning Systems
to launch the Green Energy Training
Academy
™
, an online educational and
training curriculum for contractors and
those interested in residential energy effi-
ciency improvements and retrofits.
The energy efficiency home remodeling
business is a competitive, growing and
ever-changing environment. Contractors
engaged in heating and cooling, insula-
tion, renewable energy and other related
improvements are seeing greater consumer
demand for increased comfort and energy
efficiency that is best presented using a more
comprehensive “whole-house” approach,
instead of an emphasis on just equipment
or single measures.
Rather than focusing on technical and
mechanical skills and certifications, the
Green Energy Training Academy
™
courses
will highlight primarily marketing, sales,
financial and other “soft” skills that con-
tractors and their employees need to run a
profitable and consumer-focused business
in this expanding market.
Home Performance 101 is the first course
to be launched by the Green Energy Training
Academy
™
with enrollment already open.
Already one of AFC First’s most popular
classroom courses, Home Performance 101
is designed as an introductory overview that
educates contractors and other energy effi-
Taco FloPro Training
Specialist John
Barba leads a class
at Taco headquar-
ters in Cranston, RI.
